Lewis Hamilton has said he will one day tell the story of his difficult debut year with Ferrari, describing it as one of his lowest moments in Formula 1. Speaking ahead of the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton reflected on his struggles during the 2025 campaign, when he called himself "useless" after failing to make the top-10 shootout in qualifying at the same circuit last year.
Hamilton's low point and recovery
Hamilton was particularly concerned that teammate Charles Leclerc had qualified on pole, leading him to suggest that Ferrari needed to "change driver." However, his fortunes have turned around in 2026, with a car that he has helped design and that has allowed him to secure his first podiums and Grand Prix victory for the team.
"I'm proud of everyone in the team and also I am definitely proud of myself for getting myself out of the place that I was in," Hamilton said. "One day, when I do my documentary, I'll tell you all about that weekend [Hungary 2025] and what led up into it. But to come from there, even coming into this week, I felt a lot from last week, and I arrived worlds away from where I was last year, for which I'm really grateful for."
Hungaroring prospects
Hamilton has won the Hungarian Grand Prix eight times, and the tight, twisty nature of the track is expected to suit the Ferrari cars. George Russell noted that the circuit is one of the least power-sensitive on the calendar, giving Ferrari an advantage due to their strong chassis. Leclerc added: "I still personally expect Mercedes to be the reference. They are going to be very difficult to beat on the qualifying lap. But it's also true that it's a track that on paper should fit our car a little bit better."
